lizard, Sabio, Nelie

August 22, 2011
We were sad to find a little friend dead in our apartment last night. We have had a tiny two inch lizard running up and down walls for the past week. At first I wanted Larry to get rid of it, but he informed me that the lizard would eat the ants and small fruit flies that have bothered us from time to time, so I gladly let him stay. Apparently we did not furnish enough insects to keep him alive. We really have been free from pests in our apartment which is nice for us but not for the lizard. A crack appeared in the wall above our stove fan a few weeks ago and we were invaded by tiny ants marching down the wall and onto our counter top. Larry sprayed with insect spray then filled the crack with some caulking and the ants disappeared!
Larry has learned how to text! The Filipinos are masters of speed with texting, and that is their main means of communications—it is much cheaper to text than make a cell phone call. He has enjoyed being able to call Elder Ganir and Nelie now that he has developed a new skill. He still spells out the words instead of using the quick codes.
The mission office couple, the Baileys, let us know that Sister Sabio was being transferred Friday and that she and Sister Fleury would be in the mission office that afternoon. I hurried and put together packages of cookies for both of the sisters, wrote a birthday note and included a temple handkerchief and some birthday money for Sister Sabio. She was to catch a bus for a 4 hour ride to the port and then a 30 minute boat ride to Dumagete where she will be serving. She was very emotional about seeing us, especially when I told her that we would likely not see her again since we are leaving in two months. She was also very frightened about her travels by herself and meeting a new companion in a new area. She has had so many challenges, but she is strong and we are sure she will be blessed. Hopefully we can keep in touch.
Sister Bailey told us that most of the missionary couples who were assigned missionaries with special needs do not write to them; they sent Christmas cards and packages, but that was all. I think how much our lives have been blessed with the testimonies and examples and love we have received from “our” Filipino missionaries, and I truly believe we have made a difference for them too. One of our elders signed his last letter to us “With love, Your son”. When they have NO support or contact with their families, maybe a simple letter from us does mean something.
Sister Lorina Bundac who was one of our missionaries until she finished her mission 4 months ago, contacted us to say that she is coming back to Cebu to see us before we go home in October. We think she is coming to see a special friend too. We hope so! She is working in an insurance company office. When she arrived home her parents asked where all the money she had brought them was. She told them she had no money. They thought she was being paid to work for the Church while she was on her mission, and they were very disappointed when she told them she had been given only what she needed beyond what she had been able to pay for herself for her living expenses. She is living 4 hours away from her family for her work, and so she can be involved in Church since there is no Church in her home area. Maybe someday her family will be influenced by her good example and want to know more about the Gospel.
Interestingly, the missionaries spent a few hours a week in the Employment Resource Center, learning how to write resumes, apply for jobs, even get some job training, so that when they are released they will have a much better chance of getting employment. The Church is so aware of how important it is for members to be able to provide for themselves and their families.
Nelie Bagaan came for soup with us Saturday night when we got out of the Temple. We were fixing deviled eggs to eat. I cut them the long way, Larry cut them the short way. I said, ”That’s not the way to do deviled eggs.” He responded that of course that was the right way because that was the way his mother had always done it. “ You can get more on a plate this way,” he stated emphatically. “But it isn’t the right way,” I countered. “Even though your mother was an excellent cook, that is not the right way to cut the eggs. They don’t sit as flat on the plate.” We were having a good natured disagreement. Nelie laughed at us. “Maybe the way Elder Ward cuts the eggs should be called ‘angel’ eggs and the way Sister Ward cuts them are ‘deviled’eggs.” WE all laughed. She should go into politics and not business management—of course, there may be times in an office situation where a mediator is needed too. She still does not have a job, but her classes are going well. She said she was going to a training at the ERC next week. Larry insisted on getting a taxi for her to ride home in because she has to walk so far from the jeepney stop and it was late at night. She texted us when she got home almost an hour later to tell us she was safe. We will go to the Talisay Stake Conference next week so we can go to church with her.
love